Funeral services will be conducted Monday afternoon, November 9, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. from the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Steven Lee officiating and Tommy Nicks delivering his eulogy. Place of rest will be in the Williams Addition of the Dickson Union Cemetery. Visitation wth the family will be Sunday afternoon and evening, November 8th from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Taylor Funeral Home and on Monday at the church beginning at 12 Noon until time of service.
Those desiring, Memorials may be made to the Community Foundation of Dickson County, the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center Building Fund or to the charity of your choice.
Bill, age 83, of Dickson, died Friday, November 6, 2015 in Horizon Medical Center after a short stay.
He was born in Charlotte,Tennessee, son of the late Thomas and Emma Orgain Duke. He was a graduate of Charlotte High School, Class of 1951 and later attending the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he received his bachelors degree in Animal Husbandry. After college he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he proudly served his country. There he was a jet fighter pilot and weapons controller. Bill taught after his time in the service at the Charlotte High School, teaching general science from 1960 until 1961. Beginning in 1961 he worked with the Federal Avaiation Agency as an air traffic controller until retiring in 1988. In December 1986 he was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Dickson and served proudly and faithfully until now.
He loved the farm...he loved the land, he had the knowledge of land. He loved to buy land.....he loved to sell land.. and he loved to teach others how to buy land and what to look for......His theory was that you made money when you bought it...not when you sold it and knew the art of a deal. He didn't like to leave Dickson County because he often said " that he had not seen all of it".
Bill was involved in real estate investments, developed the popular Eastwood Subdivision in Dickson , and Interstate Properties. He formerly owned a sawmill and loved being a cattle farmer.
He was married to the former Betsy Sawyer. Bill was a loving husband, dad ,pawpaw and brother.
Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Betsy Duke of Dickson,TN, His daughters, Beth Duke of Dickson,TN and Kelli Myers and her husband Blair of Nashville,Tn, he was the " Paw Paw" to Molly and Jack Myers, also surviving are his brother, Jimmy Duke and his wife, Bonnie of Charlotte,TN and Bill was the most favorite and loving son-in-law to Elizabeth "Tib" Sawyer of Dickson,TN He was preceded in death by his beloved four legged companion, "Miss Daisy".
Friends, neighbors and family will serve as active casket bearers, honorary will be the Board of Directors of the Bank of Dickson.